A number of people are stress about their first court date with simple matters like: where is the courthouse, how do I call the court coordinator, where is the district clerk's office. Below are links to the area court houses which can provide answers and directions to each of these common questions:

Conflict and stress put pressures on parents which frequently trickle over to their children's lives. Explaining separation, divorce, and abuse topics to children can often be challenging. Sometimes, the parents make the decision to separate, but have no clue how to parent between two households. Fortunately, area and online resources are available to assist with all of these areas. The following are just some of the resources that parents can utilize to reduce their own parenting stress, and, most importantly, the stress on their children. These resources can help parents with general strategies, like how to explain divorce to children. They also offer more support services including helping parents design parenting plans and communication strategies between to homes.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

One of the biggest non-legal questions that we field from clients is "Where can I get help" for financial related matters. Because of a personal injury or a splitting up of a marriage, many individuals suddenly find themselves on limited incomes. Fortunately, resources are available to assist with food and housing in the East Texas Region. Below are just a few of the resources available to area residents:

Whether a parent has been hit with a personal situation, a physical injury, or a divorce suit, sometimes parents just need access to a little more help than usual. Below are some area resources available for parents to utilize:

We received the following list from Caring 4 Our Children, a group dedicated to helping parents work through the challenges and opportunities of raising an autistic child. Thank you Linda for sharing the info!

Veterans have proudly served our country for decades, only to return home to a private suffering because of physical issues, mental health issues, or general financial struggles. Sometimes, these struggles spill over into other parts of their lives and impact their marriages, their jobs, and their relationships with their children. However, assistance is available for all of these issues. Below is a summary of programs available to all Veterans.

HELP FOR SENIORS AND RETIREES

Drafting a will or trust document is not the only issue affecting seniors and their children. Non-legal issues like housing, hospice care, senior living, and hearing support are just a few of the non-legal issues which can eventually lead to legal problems for seniors and their children. Unfortunately, many scam artists pray on seniors who have limited resources, support, or hearing capabilities. Through area programs, seniors can obtain the assistance they need to prevent such issues. Below are a sample of some of the programs available in East Texas:

ABUSE VICTIM RESOURCES

Being a victim does not mean that you have to stay a victim. If you are the victim of domestic violence, resources are available to help you with safety plans, counseling, and the restarting of your life as a survivor, rather than a victim. Many district attorney's offices offer victim assistance programs. If such a program is not available through your district attorney, local resources are still available. Here are just a few in the East Texas Region:

Many lawsuits are filed simply because someone truly did something to hurt (physically or financially) another individual. However, many cases, unfortunately, stem from an addiction issue. Whether drug or alcohol related, addiction is frequently the root cause of several types of litigation: custody disputes, divorce actions, criminal DWI charges, personal injury suits related to alcohol consumption, or debt suits when a person allows their addiction to consume their financial resources. The legal system can address the "legal consequences" of addiction, but getting help for addiction issues will eventually be the solution. Unfortunately, many people just don't know where to start. It starts with a phone call to a resource. Below are links, contact information, and brochures regarding resources available for free or reduced rates in the East Texas area. We encourage any person with addiction issues to start their journey to recovery.

FAMILY LAW STANDING ORDERS

More and more counties are imposing standing orders when a family law case is filed. Family law cases include: divorces, paternity suits, custody suits, and modification actions. Courts have begun imposing standing orders as a way to set up "do right" rules from the very beginning of a lawsuit. They are automatic and immediately go into effect when the case is filed. Each county has their own set of "Standing Orders." Below are some samples of the standing orders for area counties.

Trying to afford medical insurance for your children can be an extremely stressful parenting concern. Many parents do not even know where to start to ask for help to make sure that their children have access to insurance or basic medical care.

Regardless of how hard some people try, they can't seem to move forward in their lives because of mental health issues. They struggle daily with depression or anxiety. Often, limited or no insurance hinders their ability to receive effective support. Fortunately, resources are available for free or reduced costs. Below are just some of the mental health resources available to people in the East Texas Region:

To put it mildly....life is just rough. This page is designed to give families resources (legal and non-legal) for those tough times. This is our collection of programs and ideas to help people in stress or crisis. We are sharing this information not as legal advice, but simply as a reminder that you are not alone, that resources are out there, and that with one phone call, things will get better. If you know of a resource that we have missed, please feel free to contact us so that we can add it to this page and share the wealth of knowledge and support with others.

Most people who enter the family law system (whether through a divorce, a paternity suit, or a custody case), have no idea of how the process works or what to expect. Below are some resources by the Texas Young Lawyer's Association that help first time participants understand what to expect during their case.